Pontiac G5 – Review: "Hey there – nice Cobalt!"
"Thanks, but it's a Pontiac G5."
"G what?"
"G5. It's part of Pontiac's new naming convention, y'know, G5, G6, and soon the G8."
"Gotcha. No offense, but by the looks of the interior, you, uh, got a pretty good deal, huh?"
"Sticker was $20,520."
"Yikes. Well, if it's a Pontiac it must have a supercharged engine or something, right?"
"Nope. That's only in the Chevy Cobalt."
"Of course. Son, you do realize that you could've had a Honda Civic Si, Volkswagen GTI, or even that supercharged Chevy for just a bit more, don't you?"
"Umm…"
"No worries. Hey, you're obviously a smart kid. I've got some ocean front property in Arizona…"

For this evaluation, Pontiac supplied us with a 2007 G5 GT Coupe for one week. We clocked several hundred miles, covering the streets and freeways of southern California, and took the opportunity to test the handling on every curvy road we encountered. Our ride featured all the GT's standard equipment, as well as a power sunroof, a Pioneer sound system, a four-speed automatic transmission, traction control, side-curtain airbags, premium paint, a remote start system, and XM satellite radio. Factoring in the GT's $17,480 price and $615 destination charge, the total tally for this Performance Red G5 GT rang in at $20,520.Using a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with variable-valve timing and 173 horsepower, the 2007 Pontiac G5 GT offers decent throttle response and plenty of power for all types of driving. Our tester was charged with transporting three grown men, along with their briefcases and assorted camera equipment, to and from LA while under our care, and not once did the little Pontiac falter. With the go pedal firmly planted against the floorboard when attempting to merge with highway traffic, the G5 GT performed admirably without any hesitation or lack of power, all while averaging 23.9 mpg. Sure, the four-banger was a little raspy, but it wasn't horrible. The same can be said of the automatic tranny, which offered relatively smooth shifts

Though based on the same platform that supports the Chevrolet Cobalt SS Supercharged Coupe, we didn't expect this more mainstream model to be terribly engaging. We were wrong…sort of. Truth be told, there's actually a little bit of sport in the G5 GT, with steering offering some road feel and defined by a good dose of responsiveness, and a controlled suspension setup that serves to balance sport and comfort, allowing for some roll and understeer but not too much. Pirelli P6 rubber measuring 205/50R17 does a decent job of gripping asphalt. The highway ride is on the stiff side, though that might be more a result of the hard seats than any of the parts bolted on underneath.

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